Strand coating and winding machine



c. JONES STRAND COATING AND WINDING MACHINE March 1, 1949.

3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1944 0 L flll'orueys.

March 1, 1949. r. c, JONES 2,463,111

- STRAND COATING AND WINDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1944 3 Sheets-Shet 2 (42 oin,

Mfi 1949- I c. H. JONES 2,463,111

STRAND COATING AND WINDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 3 7 Patented Mar. 1, 1949 STRAND COATING AND WINDING MA H'INE Charles H. Jones, Warwick, R. I.-, assignor to Universal Winding Company, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 4, 1944, Serial No. 566,447 16 Claims. ((31. 91-43) This invention relates to a device for conditioning or treating yarn and other strand materials with liquids during delivery of the strands from a source of supplyin transfer processes, such as in winding cops or packages.

In the present specification and claims the term yarn" is used broadly to indicate any form of strand material either natural or synthetic, and the term package" is employed in a generic sense to designate the product of the winding or,

other machine in which or on which the yarn is treated.

One object of the invention is to provide a r.

device of the type indicated for applying a uniform amount of liquid to the yarn during its linear travel whatever its rate of draft.

Another object is to provide'a device of the type indicated for use with standard types of winding machines wherein the yarn is wound into a package with its rate of delivery thereto increasing as the package grows in size.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated in the form of a fountain comprising a basin for containing the liquid provided with an annular rim with which the yarn contacts to take up the liquid feeding thereacross.

Another objectis to provide a device of the type indicated in which the fountain-basin is fed from a reservoir with means to regulate the rate of feed in accordance with requirements.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated having means actuated from the winding mechanism or other apparatus to which the yarn is delivered to increase the rate of feed of the liquid to the basin in proportion to the increase in rate of linear travel of the yarn.

. Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated for use with winding machines with the feed of the liquid regulated by means actuated from the winding mechanism to increase its rate of flow from the reservoir in proportion to the increase in size of the package being wound.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of the type indicated which is of simple construction, accurate in the control of the amount of liquid applied to the running yarn, and efliclentin operation for the purpose specified.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the device, by

way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the essential elements of a. conventional type of winding ma-.

chine showing the present improved device as used therewith for applying liquid to the yarn during its delivery to the winding package;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevational view, slightly enlarged, showing the parts of the winding mechanism at a later stage in the winding of the package and illustrating the liquid-applying device as regulated to increase the flow of the liquid to the fountain-basin;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the control mechanism for the liquid-feeding means;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the ad'- justable valve for the liquid-feeding means;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the fountain showing the feed-pipe leading thereto and the drain pipe leading therefrom;

- Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the adjustable connection between the control lever for the liquidfeeding means and the winding mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a further-enlarged view of the adjustable connection in section on line of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8' is an enlarged planview showing the slidable adjusting means on the linkage which connects the feeding means with the winding mechanism of the machine.

,The present improved liquid-applying device is herein shown as adapted foruse with a winding machine of conventional type in which the winding spindle is driven at a constant rateof I speed and the yarn or other strand material'delivers thereto with its'linear rate of draftprogressively increasing as the package grows in size. It is to be understood-however, that the present device. may be applied to use with other types of machines in which the yarn delivers from its source at a constant rate of draft, for example, in drum-driven winding machines,

'twisters and other apparatus employed for processing strand materials. 1

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the present drawings, the winding machine, designated generally by the reference character 2, may comprise a rotary winding spindle 3 driven at a constant rate of speed and a reciprocable thread-guide for traversing the yarn longitudinally of the spindle to deposit it in layers of crossing coils extending lengthwise of the package. The means for rotating the winding spindle 3 and reciprocating the thread-guide 5 are not herein shown and .described as they may be of any usual construction well known to those versed in the art. The yarn T 1/ or other strand. material may'befsupplied from a any usual source, such as a cone 0, supported below the winding machine with the strand delivering upwardly therefrom and drawing through a tension-device represented at 6. The tension-device may comprise a pair of grid-like members 1 and 8 resiliently pressed against the feeding strand of yarn y, and thence the strand may lead through a slub-catcher 9 and around a pin or other guide In to feed directly therefrom to the thread-guide 5, by which it is traversed longitudinally of the winding spindle 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, a cylindrical or other form of cop-tube T is usually placed on the winding spindle 3 to serve as a core for the package P wound thereon, represented in this view as being of relatively small diameter at the beginning of the winding operation. Means are provided for effecting relative separation between the winding spindle 3 and thread-guide 5 as thepackage increases in size, the present drawings illustrating the thread-guide as mounted for reciprocation on a traverse-frame l5 pivoted at M to swing about a fixed axis. The traverse-frame 5 comprises an upper arm in the form of a casing l6 containing thedriving mechanism for the guide-reciprocating means, not herein shown in detail, but which may be of the form and construction illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,328,344 of August 31, 1943. Depending from the casing I6 is a lower arm 4'! which maybe counterweighted or connected with suitable weighted levers, not herein shown, for resisting the swinging movement of the traverse frame l5 to maintain the thread-guide 5 bearing at all times against the surface of the package P. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower arm 11 is extended downwardly by means of a sheet-metal yokemember l8 fastened thereto by screws l9.

As before indicated, the present improved liquid-applying device comprises a fountain which may be embodied in an annular saucer-like basin fixedly supported below the tension-device 5 with its aXis in line therewith. As shown most clearly in the sectional view, Fig. 2, and plan view Fig. 5, the basin 20 is formed with an upstanding cylindrical wall 2| and an inner inwardly-tapered conical wall 22 open at the center to provide for the passage of the yarn strand through the basin centrally thereof. The conical wall 22 thus forms a tapered annular recess or basin 23 for containing the liquid which is adapted to flow across the rim or lip 24 of the wall to feed to the yarn drawing thereacross. The conical wall 22 is continued downwardly toprovide a flaring mouth or opening around which the strand of yarn y is adapted to play as it balloons radially outward in delivering from the cone C.

or other source of supply. Means are provided for catching any drip or overflow from the rim of .the conical wall 22 comprising a conicallyv walled gutter-member 25. The member 25 may be made integral with the basin 20, but preferably it is constructed separate therefrom, being formed, for example, of sheet-metal in the shape of a cylindrical cup having its bottom wall forced upwardly at the center by a punching process in dies to form a flaring opening 26 bounded by-a substantially conical wall enclosing a gutter-like pocket '21.

trol valve 32 a smaller pipe 33 leads downwardly and laterally to enter the basin 20 through its vertical wall 2|. A larger exhaust pipe 34 is tapped into the side of the basin 20 communicating with the gutter 21 and leading downwardly to empty into a suitable reserve tank or receptacle 35. Communicating with the tank 35 is a rotary pump 38, see Fig. 1, illustrated more or less diagrammatically and arranged to pump the liquid from the tank 35 through a pipe 36' into the reservoir 30 so as to provide a, continuous flow of the supply of liquid.

The rate of feed of the liquid to the fountainbasin 20 is regulated by means of the valve 32 which may be of any suitable construction, for

I example, a sight-feed needle-valve such as shown in the enlarged sectional view, Fig. 4. The body of the valve 32 has an upper feed passage 31 communicating with an offset lower passage 38 with a plunger-needle 33 for controlling the flow therethrough. The needle 39 is threaded through a bearing on the body of the valve 32 with a gland or stuffing-box 40 of usual construction at the end of the bearing for preventing leakage. Fast on the outer end of the needle 39 is a disk 4|, preferably knurled or serrated on its periphery to provide a finger-grip for turning it by hand. Between the disk 4| and the stuffingbox 40, a lever 42 is mounted free to turn on the needle 39. The disk 4| is provided with an arcuate slot 43, see Fig. 2, through which is inserted a screw 44 threaded into the lever 42. The lever 42 may thus be locked with the disk 4| in different positions rotatively thereof whereby to secure The lever 42 projects downwardly from the valve 32 and has a central slot 46 extending throughout the greater part of its length. At one side of the slot 46' in a. graduated scale 41 bearing suitable indicia. The, lever 42 is connected for operation to the winding mechanism of the machine by means of a link 50. Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, one end of the link 50 is adjustably fastened to the lever 42 by means of a screw 5| passing through its slot 46 and secured fast by a nut 52 on its rearward end. Preferably, the screw 5| is inserted through a flanged bushing 53 held in a hole in the link 50 to adapt the end of the link to pivot on the lever. The end of the bushing 53 bears against a washer 54 to bind it against the lever 42. The washer 54 may be made of sheet-metal with a pointed projection 55 registrable with the graduations of the scale 41 and formed with a finger 56, see Fig. '1, which projects into the slot 46 to prevent the washer from turning on the screw 5|. nut 52 the end of the link 50 may be adjusted longitudinally of the lever 42 to vary the range of action of the latter on the valve 32, the link being permanently secured in its adjusted position by tightening the nut 52.

The opposite end of th link 50 is connected to the depending arm H of the traverse -frame l5. For this purposethe arm I! carries a quadrantshaped lever adjustably mounted on its yokeshaped extension I. As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the lever 60 is pivoted on a screw 6| and secured in adjusted position by means of a second screw 62 passing through an arcuate slot 63 in the lever and screwed into the back of the yoke i8. The lower portion of the lever 50 By loosening the.

. 5 is constituted by a depending ilnger 34- formed with a series of holes 65. preferably numbered in sequence. Fastened at one end to the finger 34 by means of a stud 66 engaging through one of the holes 35 is a link-extension 31' of elbow shape, see Fig. 8,'having its free end and connected in overlying relation to the main link 53. For this purpose the link 50 is formed with a longitudinal slot 68 through which is inserted a screw 69 screwed into the link-extension 61. Preferably, the two parts of the link are bound together by means of a sort of saddle 10 constructed separate from or as a part of the linkextension 61 and embodying flanges ll overlying the top and bottom of the link 50. Through this means the link 50 and its extension 61 are prevented from buckling, one with respect to the other, while being adapted for sliding a justment to extend or shorten the linkage.

The present improved liquid-applying device having been described in detail, its method of operation is explained as follows: To prepare the winding machine for operation the strand of yarn y is drawn off from the cone and threaded through the opening in the center of the basin 20 as indicated by the dot-and-dash line in Figs. 1 and 2. From the basin 20 the strand is drawn upwardly through the tension-device 3 and slub-catcher 3, passed around the guiding pin Ill, thence led to the windingspindle 3 and its end fastened to the cop-tube T. The yarn is inserted in the groove of the thread-guide 5 and the guide placed against the-surface of the cop-tube T by swinging the traverse-frame l5 in the clockwise direction. Meanwhile, the rate of feed of the emulsion or other liquid to supply the fountain 20 is adjusted manually in the manner explained as follows:

Preferably, the connections between the control-lever 42 and the traverse-frame i5 are left 6 1 y eral adjustments the connection between the traverse-frame l3 and control lever 42 may be set very accurately to provide a range of movement of the control lever in certain ratio to the receding movement of the thread-guide I from the winding spindle I during the growth of the die. The ratio bepackage P wound on the s tween the linear draft oithe am and the growth of the winding package may vary within certain limits in accordance with the size of the winding strand and the particular characteristics of the winding; for example, the density 01' the. package being wound as controlled by certain instrumentalities of the winding machine such as the tension applied to the yarn, the pressure of the guide against the package and other factors. The various adjustments are therefore usually made by trial and experimentation until a definite ratio is arrived at for any particular kind of yarn and type of cop or package. After being properly adjusted the parts usually requireno change in position for continuously winding packages of predetermined weight from any given material.

With the feed of the conditioning liquid regu-' lated at a certain rate for starting the winding, the device o'irates in the manner as next explained. The winding spindle 3 is driven at a constant rate of speed and the thread-guide 5 is reciprocated in certain ratio thereto by the usual driving means such as shown and described in the patent referred to above. The yarn will unfastened during the initial adjustment. With 7 the screw 64 loosened the disk 40 may be rotated manually to adjust the needle 39 for a flow of the liquid suitable for treating the yarn at the start of the winding while its passage through the device is relatively slow. The flow of liquid is ad justed in accordance with the character of the yarnor other material to be treated; that is, with a greater or lesser rate of feed in accordance with the size of the yarn, its requirements and Other conditions. After the initial rate of feed of the liquid has been regulatedand determined by observing the drip through the sight-opening '85, the lever 42 may be set in position, prefervalve 32 to supply the basinlil, the extension 61 at the opposite end of the link may be conthus be wound on the cop=tube T under tension applied thereto by the tension-device 3 to produce a package P. As the package P increases in diameter the thread-guide 5 will recede from the spindle 3 with. the traverse-frame i5 swinging outwardly in contraclockwlse direction. This swinging motion of the traverse-frame IE will cause the link 50 to rock the lever 42 in contraclockwise direction, thereby rotating the disk 4i and needle 33 to unscrew the latter in its bearing in the control valve 32. As the needle 39 is thus turned in its bearing, its pointed end will recede in'the orlfic connecting the passages 31 and 33 to increasethe flow of the liquid therethrough. Consequently, as the yarn y is taken up by the winding package P and drawn through the opening in the basin 20 at a progressively increased rate of draft, the supply of liquid in the basin will be gradually increased.

As the yarn delivers from the cone C or other source of supply it will balloon radially outward therefrom, as indicated by the dot-and-dash line in Fig. 1, and this ballooning action will cause it to revolve around the opening in the basin 30 in contact with the annular rim or lip 24 of the conical wall 22.

take up a certain amount of the liquid flowing over the lip. At the start of the winding operation the feed of the liquid to the basin 20 is controlled so that only a small quantity may reach the lip 24 to be transferred to the yarn strand; but as the rate of draft on the yarn increases the rate of feed of the liquid is accelerated to connected to one ofthe holes 65 in the depending finger 64 of the lever 60. During this latter adjustment the length of the link 50 may be altered by sliding its extension 61 relative thereto after loosening the screw 69; it being noted also that the quadrant-lever 60 may also be adjusted on the lower arm ll of the traverse-frame i5 by loosening the screw 62. By means of these sevtinuously supply the basin with a progressively increasing amount proportionate to the increase in linear speed of the yarn. In this way, by an accurate adjustment of the parts to regulate the movement of the control lever 42 in proportion to the increase in size of the package being wound and the consequent increase in linear rate of draft on the yarn, the liquid is supplied to the By this wiping contact of the strand'zrwith the lip 24 defining the mouth of the. opening in the basin 23 the yarn is caused to that with the proper adjustment of the controls it .will vary only within very narrow limits. In

certain instances, however, it may be desirable to apply an increasing amount of liquid to the strand material as the package increases insize. due to the fact that when the yarn is stored the outer portions of the package may loose the regain" more rapidly than the mass at the center due to exposure to the atmosphere. In such circumstances the device may be adjusted to effect the desired result, that is, to apply an increasing amount of the liquid to the strand material from start to finish of the package.

In order to conserve the liquid used for conditioning the yarn, means are provided for catching the drip or overflow from the basin and returning itto the supply. Any surplus liquid not taken up by the yarn during its passage through the basin 20 will drip into the gutter 21 and be drained therefrom through the pipe 34 into the tank 35. The pump 36 may be operated to return this overflowing liquid to the reservoir or supply tank so as to maintain a continuous circulation from the reservoir through the basin 20 into the tank and back to the reservoir.

'The winding machine may be operated continuously to wind yarn or other material into packages with the present device functioning to condition the material uniformly or in accordance with any preferred" practice. When it is necessary to arrest the operation of thewinding machine due to breakage of the yarn or exhaustion of its supply, or for dofllng the wound packages and donning fresh cop-tubes thereon, the liquid may continue to feed to the fountain-basin 20, but its overflow therefrom will be caught in the gutter 21 and drained into the tank 35 for circulation back to the reservoir 30.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings that the present invention provides a novel and ingenious device for conditioning strand materials with liquids by applying a uniform amount of liquid to the strand material or in accordance with other requirements. While the device is herein shown as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A device for applying liquid to a running strand comprising an annular basin for the liquid having an inner annular wall rising from its bottom and of much larger diameter than that of the strand across the rim of which the strand draws in feeding through the opening at the center of the basin, and means for continuously supplying liquid to the basin in the annular space surrounding said wall 'to cause it to feed across its rim to be taken up by the strand as it wipes thereagainst.

2. A device for applying liquid to a running strand comprising an annular basin having its central opening bounded by an upwardly projecting annular wall having a circular rim of much greater diameter than that of the strand across which the strand draws, and means for supplying liquid to the basin to cause it to feed upwardly across the rim of the annular wall to be taken up by the strand as it wipes thereagainst.

3. A device for conditioning yarn and other strand materials comprising a basin with an inner annular wall forming a circular opening through the basin, said opening being of much greater diameter than that ofthe yarn, means for supplying liquid to the basin in the space surrounding its annular wall to cause it to flow across the rim of the wall, and means to feed a strand through the opening in the basin to cause it to wipe against the rim of the wall to collect the liquid flowing thereacross.

4. A device for conditioning yarn and other strand materials comprising a basin for. liquid having an annular wall forming a central opening through the basin, means for supplying liquid to the basin surrounding said wall, means to progressively increase the amount of liquid supplied I to the basin to cause it to flow across the rim of the wall, and means for guiding a strand to feed it through theopening in the basin and cause it to wipe around the rim of the annular wall to receive the liquid therefrom.

5. A device of the type indicated comprising an annular basin provided with an opening bounded by an upstanding annular wall whereby to permit a strand of yarn to feed through the opening, means for continuously feeding liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across its annular wall, and means for continuously adjusting the feed to increase the flow of the liquid substantially in proportion to an increasing linear speed of the yarn passing through the opening in the basin.

6. A device of the type indicated comprising a basin formed with an opening bounded. by a circular rim, a reservoir for a supply of liquid, means for feeding the liquid from the reservoir f to the basin to cause it to flow across said rim,

a valve for regulating the feed of the liquid, and means for progressively opening the valve to increase the rate of feed of the liquid substantially in proportion to the increasing linear speed of a yarn feeding through the opening.

'7. A device of the type indicated comprising a basin having an opening bounded by a circular rim, means for feeding a yarn through the opening at a progressively increasing linear rate of speed, means for supplying liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said circular rim ofthe basin, and means for progressively increasing the rate of flow of the liquid as the speed of the yarn increases.

8. In combination with a winding machine comprising a rotary spindle driven at a constant 1 speed for winding packages of yarn, a basin for liquid formed with a rim across which the yarn feeds to the winding package, means for feeding liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across its rim to apply it to the yarn, and means operated during the growth of the package being wound to progressively increase the rate of feed of the liquid to the basin substantially in proportion to the increasing linear speed of the yarn feeding to the winding package.

9. In combination with means for winding yarn into a cop or package by rotating it at a constant speed, a basin" for liquid having an opening adapted to permit the yarn to feed therethrough in contact with its rim, means to feed liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said rim, and

means operated from the winding means to progressively increase the rate of feed of the liquid during the growth in size of the package in proportion to the increase in linear speed 01" the yarn feeding through the opening in the basin.

10. In a winding machine comprising a winding spindle rotated at a constant speed and a traversing thread-guide, said spindle and threadguide being adapted to separate as a package of yarn is wound on the spindle, the combination of a fountain embodying a basin for liquid provided with an opening to permit the yarn to draw therethrough in delivering to the winding package, means for feeding liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across the rim of the opening, and means actuated by the separation of the winding spindle and thread-guide to increase the rate of feed of the liquid substantially in proportion to the in- .crease in linear speed of the yarn delivering to the winding package.

11. In combination with a winding spindle rotated at a constant speed and a traversing threadguide adapted to separate one from the other during the growth of a package of yarn wound on the spindle, a basin having a lip across which the yarn draws in delivering to the winding package,

means for continuously feeding liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said lip and apply it to the yarn, and means actuated by the separation between the spindle and thread-guide to increase the rate of feed of the liquid in predetermined proportion to the increase in linear speed of the yarn during the growth of the package.

, 12. In a winding machine comprising a rotary winding spindle driven at a constant speed, a traversing thread-guide, and a frame for supporting the thread-guide to adapt it to recede from the spindle during the growth of the package being wound, the combination of a basin for applying liquid to the yarn as it delivers to the package, said basin having a raised rim across which the yarn draws, means for continuously feeding liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said rim, and means operated by the movement of the frame to increase the rate of feed of the liquid to the basin substantially in proportion to the increase in linear speed of the yarn delivering to the winding package.

13. In a winding machine comprising a rotary winding spindle driven at a constant speed, a traversing thread-guide, and a movable frame for supporting the thread-guide to adapt it to recede from the winding spindle during the growth of the package being wound, the combination of a basin for applying liquid to the yarn delivering to the package, said basin having a raised rim with which the delivering yarn contacts, means for feeding the liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said rim, a valve for regulating the feed of the liquid, and means operated by the movement of. the frame to progressively open the valve to increase the rate of feed of the liquid substantially in proportion to the increase in linear speed of the yarn delivering to the winding package.

14..In combination with means for winding a package of yarn by rotating it at a constant speed,

'a basin for containing liquid to apply it to the yarn delivering to the package, said basin having a raised rim across which the yarn draws, means for feeding the liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said rim, a valve for regulating the rate of feed of the liquid, a lever for operating the valve, and means operated by the winding means to actuate the lever to increase the rate of feed of the liquid substantially in proportion to the increasing linear speed of the yarn delivering to the package.

15. In combination with means for winding a package of yarn by rotating it at a constant speed, means movable by and with the growth of the winding package, a basin for containing liquid to apply it to the yarn, said basin having a raised rim across which the yarn draws in feeding to the package, means for supplying the liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said rim, a valve for regulating the supply of liquid, and means connecting said movable means to operate the valve to progressively increase the supply of liquid in the basin substantially in proportion to the increase in the linear speed of the yarn being wound on the package.

16. In combination with means for winding a package of yarn by rotating it at a constant speed, a member movable by and with the growth of the winding package, a basin for applying liquid to the yarn during the winding of the package, said basin having a raised rim with which the yarn contacts in feeding to the winding package, means for feeding the liquid to the basin to cause it to flow across said rim. a valve for regulating the feed of the liquid, means connecting the movable member to progressively open the valve, and means for adjusting said connecting means to control the rate of opening the valve.

CHARLES H. JONELS.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bleibler Dec. 1, 1986 

